Innovation in Water Research

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Projects

Flood Memory

Background

Changes in the frequency and severity of floods is under close scrutiny due to increased storminess in projections of future climate. The Flood Memory project examines observed records of storms to help us better understand how clustering of hydrological events may obscure or even exacerbate climate induced changes. The project investigates the most critical flood scenarios caused by sequences or clusters of extreme weather events striking vulnerable systems of flood defences, urban areas, communities and businesses. The team analyse and simulate situations where a second flood may strike before coastal or river defences have been reinstated after damage, or householders and small businesses are in a vulnerable condition recovering from the first flood. By examining such events and identifying the worst case scenarios, we hope our findings will lead to enhanced flood resilience and better allocation of resources for protection and recovery.

Aims:

The current practice of modelling flood risk based on single event simulations for fixed river cross-sections is incorrect, as it fails to consider active changes to channel shape via erosion and deposition processes. As these sediment transport processes occur both during a flood “event” and in the intervening low flow “recovery” period, there appears benefit in developing a coupled flow-sediment modelling approach to flood risk assessments which includes longer-term multiple event simulations. The Heriot-Watt team is lead byDr. Heather Haynes with specific objectives that include: